SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES

A lesson from ‘the most dangerous cities’

Aug 25, 2016, 1:12 PM

New FBI statistics reveal the worst cities in the country in terms of violent crime. St. Louis tops the list as the most dangerous metropolis of them all, perhaps showing the impact of the “Ferguson Effect” that has crippled policing in Missouri. Runners up on this dishonor roll are Memphis, Detroit, Birmingham, Rockford, Illinois and Baltimore.

Related: Troubled parties, divided by race

Of the 10-worst cities for violent crime, only Stockton, California — No. 7 on the list — has a substantial Hispanic or immigrant population. In fact, immigrant-heavy border cities like San Diego and El Paso, count among the safest cities in America, not the most dangerous.

These statistics expose the twisted, dishonest propaganda that blames illegal immigration for high crime rates. Undocumented immigrants may represent a major economic and cultural challenge for a community, but available data show they are less likely, not more likely, to engage in violent crime than their native-born counterparts in similar economic circumstances.

Please follow our Community Guidelines

rain fall sunshine...

Ted Buehner

Up to an inch of rain Tuesday before fall sunshine returns to western Washington

The fall season’s first rainfall occurred last week. After a weekend of sunshine, another Pacific weather system is forecast to swing onshore Tuesday for more rain.

27 seconds ago

tacoma drug dealing sleeping car...

KIRO 7 News Staff

Two men suspected of drug dealing arrested in Tacoma, found sleeping in car

Two men, found sleeping in a car, were arrested for suspected drug dealing earlier this month in Tacoma.

19 minutes ago

kurt cobain olympia airbnb...

KIRO 7 News Staff

Kurt Cobain’s Olympia apartment transformed into Airbnb

Nirvana fans can now spend the night in one place Kurt Cobain called home, as Cobain’s Olympia apartment is now available to book on Airbnb.

29 minutes ago

tacoma officer-involved shooting...

Frank Sumrall

Tacoma officer-involved shooting kills man during domestic assault response Sunday

A deadly officer-involved shooting that happened in Tacoma on Sunday is under investigation.

40 minutes ago

FILE - A view of the construction site of the new U.S. Consulate in Milan, Italy, on June 8, 2026. ...

Associated Press

US construction giant agrees to a $35 million settlement for workers building the Milan consulate

MILAN (AP) — The U.S. company building the new American consulate in Milan has agreed to a nearly 31-million-euro ($35 million) settlement that includes back pay and damages to foreign workers who prosecutors allege were paid less than $2 an hour, officials said Monday. The settlement was signed by the Milan prosecutors, Alabama-based multinational Caddell […]

1 hour ago

This combination photo shows Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, from left, Rahm Emanuel, Sen. Mark Kelly, ...

Associated Press

Democrats keep coming to South Carolina to stump for midterm candidates. It’s all about 2028

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — On paper, South Carolina might be an odd place for Democrats to converge to campaign for midterm candidates. Republicans dominate state politics, and there’s slim chance of that changing this year. But South Carolina is also the first state in Democrats’ next presidential nominating process, so White House hopefuls are looking […]

1 hour ago

A lesson from ‘the most dangerous cities’